IRES-International Research in Geosciences (Earth and Atmospheric Sciences) in Ethiopia

IRES-埃塞俄比亚国际地球科学研究（地球和大气科学）

• 批准号: 1559308
• 负责人: Solomon Bililign
• 金额: $ 24.99万
• 依托单位: North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2016
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2016-08-01 至 2022-09-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1559308&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: IRES; International; Research; Geosciences; Earth

This proposal focuses on providing international educational and research opportunities in geosciences for US students and underrepresented minorities in a non-traditional study abroad destination, in this case Ethiopia. Only 4% of international undergraduate student research experiences are in Africa. Recent research has documented the benefits of these international experiences including: increased knowledge of other cultures, world geography, cultural relativism, and global interdependence. Students in general show increasing enthusiasm about problems of global importance that have practical consequences and are strongly attracted to interdisciplinary courses, especially those of societal relevance. The collaborations in this proposal will aid the effort of developing a globally engaged workforce in the US and provide the opportunity for students to tackle problems of global magnitude as members of the world community. This project can have a significant impact on the participation of U.S. students in geosciences education and research at both participating U.S. institutions. We expect that students participating in the international study, research training program and field experience abroad will acquire knowledge and research skills in geosciences and will be encouraged to pursue academic and/or industrial careers in these areas. The scientists and students at North Carolina A&T University (NCA&T) and in Ethiopia are benefiting from the collaboration, as they are now developing long lasting relationships that create the conditions for joint global projects. Ethiopia serves as an ideal natural laboratory for training US students in the geosciences. The main Ethiopian Rift and the Afar Depression region is the only location on earth, other than Iceland, where the transition from continental to oceanic rift is being studied. The East African Rift System crossing through Ethiopia is one the geologic wonders of the world, a place where the earth's tectonic forces are presently trying to create new plates by splitting apart old ones. Ethiopia and sub-Saharan Africa is also home to some of the highest levels of atmospheric aerosols from biomass-burning (BB) and BB is believed to be a major driver of regional carbon, energy, and water cycles. Selected IRES students will work alongside research mentors from NCA&T, Addis Ababa University (AAU) and Appalachian State University (ASU) and student researchers from AAU to (1) conduct geophysics research including exploring geothermal energy and groundwater sources; (2) initiate long-term measurements of atmospheric aerosols in Addis Ababa; and (3) conduct laboratory-based studies of BB aerosol optical properties (4) apply Fourier Transform spectroscopic techniques to develop carbon monoxide (CO) emission inventories. The proposed activities build upon existing research capabilities at the three universities and collaborations between NCA&T and AAU, which have involved numerous US undergraduates in international research experiences. The research experiences will be conducted in a region of the world that serves as an ideal natural geoscience laboratory (Earth and atmospheric sciences) and which has traditionally been neglected for international student research opportunities. U.S. student participants will work alongside AAU students and faculty researchers who are leaders in their field on interdisciplinary geoscience projects that will instill Earth system science approach and have societal implications, including geothermal energy, water resources, plate tectonics, and relationships between regional air quality and climate change.

该提案的重点是为美国学生和代表性不足的少数民族提供地球科学的国际教育和研究机会，在一个非传统的留学目的地，在这个例子中是埃塞俄比亚。只有4%的国际本科生的研究经历是在非洲。最近的研究证明了这些国际经验的好处，包括：增加对其他文化、世界地理、文化相对主义和全球相互依存的了解。学生们普遍对具有实际影响的全球性问题表现出越来越大的热情，并被跨学科课程，特别是与社会相关的课程所强烈吸引。该提案中的合作将有助于在美国发展一支全球参与的劳动力队伍，并为学生提供作为国际社会成员解决全球重大问题的机会。该项目可以对美国学生在参与的两个美国机构中参与地球科学教育和研究产生重大影响。我们希望参加国际学习、研究培训计划和海外实地经验的学生将获得地球科学方面的知识和研究技能，并鼓励他们在这些领域从事学术和/或工业事业。北卡罗来纳农工大学（NCA&amp；T）和埃塞俄比亚的科学家和学生正从合作中受益，因为他们正在建立长期持久的关系，为联合开展全球项目创造条件。埃塞俄比亚是训练美国学生学习地球科学的理想的自然实验室。埃塞俄比亚大裂谷和阿法尔洼地是地球上除冰岛外唯一研究大陆裂谷向海洋裂谷转变的地方。穿越埃塞俄比亚的东非裂谷系是世界地质奇观之一，在这里，地球的构造力正试图通过分裂旧板块来创造新板块。埃塞俄比亚和撒哈拉以南非洲地区也是生物质燃烧产生的大气气溶胶含量最高的地区，生物质燃烧被认为是该地区碳、能源和水循环的主要驱动力。入选的IRES学生将与NCA&amp；T，亚的斯亚贝巴大学（AAU）和阿巴拉契亚州立大学（ASU）的研究导师以及AAU的学生研究人员一起进行(1)进行地球物理研究，包括勘探地热能和地下水资源；(2)启动亚的斯亚贝巴大气气溶胶的长期测量；(3)开展基于实验室的BB气溶胶光学特性研究(4)应用傅立叶变换光谱技术开发一氧化碳（CO）排放清单。拟议的活动建立在三所大学现有的研究能力和NCA&amp；T和AAU之间的合作基础上，这些合作使许多美国本科生参与了国际研究经验。这些研究经验将在世界上一个作为理想的自然地球科学实验室（地球和大气科学）的地区进行，这个地区传统上被国际学生的研究机会所忽视。美国学生参与者将与AAU的学生和教师研究人员一起工作，这些研究人员是各自领域的跨学科地球科学项目的领导者，这些项目将灌输地球系统科学方法并具有社会意义，包括地热能，水资源，板块构造以及区域空气质量与气候变化之间的关系。